It’s Monday! Time for your writing prompt! Those of you doing my KYD Challenge will have fun with this one!
Mausoleum of madness.
Go crazy! ?
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
My latest Super Secrets of Writing article is now published at DreamForge, just in time to help you crank up those plots in your Q3s! The title? “Escalating Tension: Crank It Up!”
Free to read, but if you wish to support this market, their Kickstarter could use your help. It’s how they fund each upcoming year, keeping great stories, illustrations, and a great market alive.
I’ve donated a webinar on how to write winning titles to help them out. Did you know my winning story “Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler” began solely as a title exercise? It did! Title is you first hook! Check out their pledge rewards. Cheers!
Click HERE to read this Super Secret!
Click HERE to check out the DreamForge Kickstarter!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@wulfmoon had to look that word up. Kind of cryptic
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
Cryptic? A mausoleum? Very punny.@wulfmoon had to look that word up. Kind of cryptic
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Great news about two of us from this SUPER SECRETS workshop! Joshua Palmatier will be publishing David Hankins and myself in the anthology GAME ON!, part of his annual Zombies Need Brains anthology series! This is a SFWA qualified market and has some incredible writers in the TOC.
I'll let David speak for his story since I don't know title and theme. Mine is "The Saltmarsh." When my wife and I had the grand opening of our public art studio in the village on Lopez Island many moons ago, we did a dramatic reading of H. Munro’s poem about a goblin and a nymph. “Overheard on a Saltmarsh” is short, but it opened up a brilliant vision in my mind that’s haunted me for years. I wanted more, more, more! This story is my answer.
Here's an excerpt of the publisher's comments and TOC lineup:
"Games are about more than winning and losing. They’re about risk and reward, strategy and blind fortune, our need to win and our fear of being outplayed. And when magic and science infuse a game, the stakes can be of cosmic importance. Each move could decide life or death. Are you ready to play?
“In this anthology, seventeen of today’s leading fantasy and science fiction authors explore the role games play in worlds both seen and unseen. Join Aliette de Bodard, Jennifer R Povey, Ed Greenwood, Cory Swanson, David Hankins, Cat Rambo, Wulf Moon, Jo Miles, James Alan Gardner, Karen Lin, Mike Rimar, Eric Choi, Tris Lawrence, Mark Silcox, Melissa Yi, Michael Picco, and Sean Williams as they share with us games played for unimaginable stakes.”
Available August 2023. Preorder HERE!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
It’s Monday, Challenge Beasties, and that means it’s time for your KYD writing prompt. What spark will ignite your fires this time, putting the sizzle to your steaks?
Belly of the beast.
Fire up the grill! And get those steaks served up for Jody’s discriminating tastes by June 30th. You can do this! Fresh is best! I wrote my winner in a day-and-a-half. Didn’t even have a chance to read it through! It certainly kept me from mucking it up through over-editing. ?
Do your worst! (You do know that means give it your best, right?)
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Slow to respond, but I must agree, Candice. That word's all but dead.
Victoria Dixon
Author of Mourn Their Courage
a 2010 Sandy Writing Contest Finalist
A Tribble Ate My Lunch: a Star Trek Cookbook (unpublished)
R=24
HM= 8
SHM=4
Finalist=1
Slow to respond, but I must agree, Candice. That word's all but dead.
Mausoleum? Very punny! 
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
It's Monday, and that means it's time for another KYD writing prompt! Here's a fun one:
Wait! I'm not ready!
Have at it! Just four days left before Q3 ends. Get those fresh stories written and sent in. You can't win if you aren't in!
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
First Monday of the final quarter of the Writers of the Future Contest year!
Start early, and make this the quarter you have not one, but several fresh stories to choose from!
Here's your first 2023 Q4 KYD prompt to help!
Paradise lost.
Milton may have coined the phrase, but you have all kinds of options with this one.
Make Q4 your winning quarter! Start early, write fresh, send your best!
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Happy Monday! It’s time for another Monday KYD writing prompt for all of you followers. Here we go!
Whispers across the void.
That May seem like a horror prompt, but it can work for fantasy and even SF!
Stretch your imagination to the limits. Write outside of your comfort zone. Find the cool twist no one has done before. Pedestrian loses, unique wins!
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
The Taxman is coming!
I'm thrilled to announce that the pre-launch page for my Death and the Taxman Kickstarter is now live, ready for my launch on August 8th.
It all started with a prompt and a story right here in the Super Secrets workshop. After WotF coordinating judge Dave Farland passed, @wulfmoon gave the prompt "Winning the Rigged Game" for a KYD. Death is the ultimate rigged game, but I wondered...what if Death lost? What if the Grim Reaper himself were trapped in a human body? Would he cling to life as tenaciously as we do? Thus was my Writers of the Future winning short story "Death and the Taxman" born. Out of pain, mourning, and my tendency to deal with difficult situations through humor. That short story, published in Volume 39 just two months ago, has met high critical acclaim.
This novel of the same name is the rest of that story. And it all started here.
The link below will take you to the Death and the Taxman pre-launch page. Click "Notify me on Launch" and you'll get an email when it goes live.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidhankins/death-and-the-taxman?ref=1t2evh
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >).
Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter at www.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
New Releases:
"The Missing Music in Milo Piper's Head" in Third Flatiron's Offshoots: Humanity Twigged
"To Catch a Foo Fighter" in DreamForge Magazine
"Milo Piper's Breakout Single that Ended the Rat War" in LTUE's Troubadours and Space Princesses anthology
"The Rise and Fall of Frankie's Patisserie" in Murderbugs anthology
"Felix and the Flamingo" in Escape Pod
"The Devil's Foot Locker" in Amazing Stories
Publication day is here for the GAME ON! anthology by Zombies Need Brains, LLC, a SFWA listed market with both pro-rate and royalties! Two Wulf Pack members in this one--David Hankins and yours truly! Includes deadly games of chance stories by top NYT bestsellers like Sean Williams, and multiple Nebula winners. One of the editors--Stephen Kotowych--is a Writers of the Future Golden Pen winner!
We'd love to share our stories with you, and of course appreciate your thoughtful reviews. Thanks for your support!
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Px4EWy
Trade: https://amzn.to/3XRrw5f
Barnes & Noble: https://barnesandnoble.com/w/game-on-stephen-kotowych/1143551652?ean=2940160865829
Kobo: https://kobo.com/us/en/ebook/game-on-115
ZNB online store: https://zombies-need-brains-llc.square.site/ (edited)
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Your Monday prompt, on Tuesday! Aren’t you special. ?
Sorry about that. I’ve been working on a commissioned story, got the editor’s suggested changes back, and the deadline distracted me. It *will* happen again. ?
Here's your KYD writing prompt!
AI hallucinations.
Write fresh, send your best!
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Artist: faisalarefinabid on Pixabay
It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Super Secrets KYD writing prompt!
There it is above! Illustration inspiration! I try to make prompts genre neutral so you can go anywhere with them. But here's one that definitely leans to the SF side of things. And if you don't write SF? Try a hybrid. Aliens here to snatch specters from a haunted house! The story is always in the "why?"
Have at it! May it inspire your winner!
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
I like the turtle! It is a turtle isn't it?
Vol. 36: 3rd -- R, 4th -- R
Vol. 37: R, HM, HM, SHM
Vol. 38: HM, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 39: SHM, RWC, RWC, HM
Vol. 40: HM, R, RWC, R
Vol. 41: R, HM, HM, HM
Vol. 42: 1st -- pending
Amateur published stories:
"The Army Ration That Saved the Earth" -- Accepted for publication, waiting for contract
"The Tell-Tale Cricket" in The Murderbugs Anthololgy
"Follow the Pretrons" in Martian Magazine, and a Critters Award
"Eyes and Hands" in Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"The Last Dance" in Parliament of Wizards, LTUE anthology
"My Ten Cents" in Sci Fi Lampoon
Professional Publication:
"Invasion" in Daily Science Fiction
I like the turtle! It is a turtle isn't it?
It looks like a turtle-ish alien, with a shell strapped to its back. Be careful playing too much off of that, as Teenage Ninja Turtles have claimed much of that domain. But nobody has the trademark on turtles, or aliens that have turtle characteristics. And there is another alien there. ?
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
horror plus turtles?
This cute news piece springs to mind....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
When you click on the picture you get to scroll to other images. Good stuff.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
horror plus turtles?
This cute news piece springs to mind....
I think the boy wants to be a zombie turtle! ?
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Super Secrets KYD writing prompt!
Navigating the underworld.
This could be a journey down the River Styx, a trip into the hollow earth theory, or a deep sea dive. The more unique your spin, the more interesting your story becomes.
Expect the unexpected is my motto!
May it inspire your winner!
All the beast!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@crlisle Great - now I can't unsee the turtle ?
Then you must write the turtle, Terry. 
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Thank you for posting these, Moon. You're the best
Thank you, Janessa! I'm glad they help! Write on!
Beastmaster Moon
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
I was interviewed on United Public Radio by Joe Montaldo last Friday. 941,163 listened live in the United States! Now posted to YouTube (and on their Roku channel), Joe says the episode will have another 650,000 listens/views internationally. Subjects discussed were overcoming the challenges aspiring writers face, the benefits of finding a mentor, and of course, the reasons why winning Writers of the Future has launched so many writing careers.
Lots of tips here for those of you trying to win the largest talent search for speculative fiction writers in the world. Knowledge is power. Enjoy!
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO AND FM RADIO INTERVIEW!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@wulfmoon this was a fantastic prompt! Thank you! I had a lot of fun with it and I know a lot of other people did too.
Author of MG Fantasy Adventures:
Gold Dust
Phoenix Down
Author of an English/Japanese bilingual fantasy for 4-6 year-olds:
Ray and Mia's Adventure
I'm a professional copy editor and also a trained mime. Please don't hold either of these against me.
V37 Q2 HM
V39 Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 RWC, Q4 HM
V41 Q1 HM
https://catherineweaverauthor.com/
@wulfmoon of course, since all I ever think of is music, this prompt makes me think of basso profundos or tuba players.
Author of MG Fantasy Adventures:
Gold Dust
Phoenix Down
Author of an English/Japanese bilingual fantasy for 4-6 year-olds:
Ray and Mia's Adventure
I'm a professional copy editor and also a trained mime. Please don't hold either of these against me.
V37 Q2 HM
V39 Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 RWC, Q4 HM
V41 Q1 HM
https://catherineweaverauthor.com/
@wulfmoon this was a fantastic prompt! Thank you! I had a lot of fun with it and I know a lot of other people did too.
I’m glad it sparked a story, Catherine! Which prompt was it?
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have been begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@wulfmoon sorry, I thought I was replying to the prompt I was referring to. It was “Whispers Across the Void.”
I wrote a unique story from it, and I saw a lot of other people using it and it seemed like each person’s story was very different. It was the most popular one of July, I think.
Author of MG Fantasy Adventures:
Gold Dust
Phoenix Down
Author of an English/Japanese bilingual fantasy for 4-6 year-olds:
Ray and Mia's Adventure
I'm a professional copy editor and also a trained mime. Please don't hold either of these against me.
V37 Q2 HM
V39 Q2 HM, Q3 SHM, Q4 HM
V40 Q1 HM, Q2 HM, Q3 RWC, Q4 HM
V41 Q1 HM
https://catherineweaverauthor.com/
